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The switch from a fuel-intensive to a material-intensive system.

Roger B

A very succinct description of the problems facing us from E+T.

https://eandt.theiet.org/2025/05/13/electric-building-materials-short-supply

“Solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and wind farms do not require fuel to operate, but they generally require more materials – including harder-to-find critical minerals and rare earths – to construct than polluting power stations. According to the IEA, an onshore wind plant requires nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired plant of the same capacity, while a typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car.”

  • The conclusion has to be, 'so please design and build things to last'

    Mike.

  • For those with long memories we had serious shortages of Copper and Nickel in the late 1950's.

    It caused the valve/tube manufactures to change out of Nickel anodes.

    Also houses built in that time frame started  using Aluminium wire in place of copper wire, when ever possible .

    Peter Brooks

  • in reply to mapj1

    So not wind turbines that will get damaged in storms and solar panels that get wrecked by hailstorms. NPPs are quite robust.

  • in reply to Roger B

    OK I will bite -- what are NPP's?

    I already have a problem translating terms like NIMBY!

    Peter Brooks

    Palm Bay FL 

    TTFN

  • in reply to Peter Brooks

    Nuclear Power Plant

  • in reply to Peter Brooks

    The whole reason for using up materials so quickly is because the world population is doubling every 20 years.  We need to have 2 kids per family only, thus reducing the 50% of energy and material costs buildings need and reducing the CO2 emissions that are causing global warming and the refugee crisis.

    Alberta G8 summit in June must have number 1 priority on agenda.
    Why are they not talking about the population explosion causing climate change.
    Free contraception not just free medical and food aid; could be a start.
  • in reply to CliveS

    Hello Clive:

    I am sorry to say that you are barking up the wrong tree. The worlds population is actually declining, I suggest you read the latest United Nations World Fertility 2024 Report (71 pages).

    un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/undesa_pd_2025_wfr_2024_final.pdf

    There is also a problem with China total population being seriously over counted (closer to 400 million not 1.4 billion).

    The shortage of materials is due to increased consumption throughout the world (example even in relatively poor countries they now have cell phones).

    Peter Brooks

  • The switch from a fuel-intensive to a material-intensive system

    The big difference of course is that while fuel is burnt once and is then gone forever, materials can be recycled over and over again - so in a sense are more "borrowed" than "used". Certainly the steel and copper, likely the more expensive smaller items as well. The composite glass fibre wind turbine blades might be more of a challenge, but never say never - engineering is always coming up with new solutions.

       - Andy.

  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    Andy:

    The best example of material being recycled over and over is GOLD !

    Peter 

  • in reply to Peter Brooks

    Peter,

    I agree that in all advanced countries who correctly count their population numbers there is a decline in numbers but in developing Africa and Sahara desert area the increase is horrifying and their economies cannot build fast enough to double every 20 years.

    See worldometers- by country stats.  They are not lying and global warming is the direct result.   

      www.worldometers.info/.../population-by-country

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